NEWS
--The United Way of Morrison County is offering a Sweetheart's Dinner for Valentine's Day weekend with help from Coborn's Marketplace in Little Falls for you to pickup and enjoy at home. The dinner is steak with twice baked potatoes and chocolates for $40, or steak and shrimp with the potatoes and chocolates for $45. There is also wine sales to be offered by the store at an additional price. The proceeds are all going to help United Way of Morrison County for there educationals projects like the Imigination Library to help with students achieve their goals and will also go to help other fundraisers if they are able to this year as they were nixed last year due to COVID-19. You need to purchase the meals as soon as possible before they run out by calling 632-5102 or go to the website of unitedwayofmc.org and click on the tickets logo for the sweethearts dinner. You will receive a ticket and that will allow you to pick up the dinner at Coborn's from 4-7pm on February 12th (that is the only time to pick up dinners). Meals are not cooked at time of pickup. You will still have to cook and prepare the meals at your residence.
--The Minnesota National Guard will provide a company of Soldiers to support presidential inauguration activities. This week more than 130 Soldiers from Bravo Troop, 1-94th Cavalry Squadron and Airmen from the 148th Fighter Wing will report to Washington D.C. in support of National Guard assignments for the inauguration. "Every four years National Guardsmen from throughout the country are called to assist local units supporting the inauguration," said Colonel Scott Rohweder, Minnesota National Guard Director of Operations. "We are proud and ready to serve the nation at this historic event." The Minnesota National Guard's 133rd Airlift Wing will provide transportation to the Soldiers. Uniquely, this weekend marks the 100th anniversary of the week the 133rd Airlift Wing received federal recognition, creating the first Air National Guard unit in the country. It is fitting that during this 100th Anniversary week, they are supporting a mission in our nation's capital at the direction of National Guard Bureau. "National security events, like the Inauguration, require rotational support from across the country to be successful," said Rohweder. "In the recent past, we have sent as few as zero and as many as 350 Guardsmen to support the inauguration."
--One person was taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash in Paynesville. The crash happened Monday just after 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 55 and Maple Street. The Minnesota State Patrol says 68-year-old Linda Syverson of Sunberg was driving south on Maple Street when she pulled out in front of an SUV headed east on Highway 55, causing the crash. Syverson was taken to Paynesville Hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening. The driver of the SUV, 17-year-old Noah Woelfel of Belgrade, did not need medical attention.
--One person was taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash in rural Wright County. The crash happened Monday around 4:45 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 55 and County Road 6 in Corinna Township, southeast of Annandale. The Minnesota State Patrol says a car driven by 74-year-old Charles Skelton of Waite Park was eastbound on Highway 55 and attempting to turn onto County Road 6 when it collided with a car driven by 60-year-old John Erickson of South Haven, which was westbound on Highway 55. Erickson was taken to Buffalo Hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening. Skelton was not hurt.
--A former Minneapolis police officer who held his knee to the neck of George Floyd for several minutes will be tried separately from three other former officers accused in his death. Court documents filed Tuesday show Derek Chauvin will stand trial alone in March while the others will be tried together in the summer. The judge wrote that it would be impossible to comply with social distancing made necessary by the coronavirus if all four defendants were tried at the same time. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter the May death of Floyd. The other three former officers are charged with aiding and abetting.
--Sunday will mark exactly 100 years since a squadron at the 133rd Airlift Wing received federal recognition, creating the first Air National Guard unit in the country. It started on September 26, 1920, when U.S. Army Gen. Walter Rhinow, Lt. Col. William Garis and Capt. Ray Miller rented a Curtiss Oriole biplane and made a daring seven-day journey to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the formation of a flying squadron. Due in part to this impressive display of aircraft capability, even with a significant lack of air support, the Militia Bureau formed the Air National Guard and on January 17, 1921, the 109th Observation Squadron was federally recognized as the first Air National Guard unit in the nation. Today’s 109th Airlift Squadron is the direct descendent unit of the original 109th Observation Squadron, located at the 133rd Airlift Wing. Lt. Col. Dana Novinskie is the current commander of the 109th Airlift Squadron. She is the first female flying squadron commander in the Wing’s history. Last year the Wing logged an impressive 2,000 flying hours in support of overseas missions, and here at home members were called up at a record pace to assist with civil unrest, COVID testing, support in long term care facilities and other State Active Duty missions.
--Four Pillager High School students were nominated for statewide awards through the Minnesota State High School League. Juniors Tatum Scull and Quintin Laveau were nominated for the ExCEL — Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership — Award, which recognizes high school juniors who are active in fine arts and/or athletics, show leadership qualities and are model citizens in their communities. Sadie Hopman and Paul Freelove are in the running for the AAA awards for seniors both awards given out by the Minnesota State High School League.
--Morrison County website reported 132 active cases on Tuesday, 68 of those in Little Falls, Royalton 18 and Pierz at 14 cases. The State Website reported 1,335 new cases and 13 new deaths. There were only 3 new cases Tuesday for Morrison County on the report.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny and mild, high near 40.
TONIGHT= rain/freezing rain and snow overnight, low 30.
THURSDAY= rain/freezing rain changing to all snow, temps rise to 34 early then fall into the 20s with gusty winds causing blowing snow.
THURS NIGHT= snow likely, totals could be 2-4 inches by morning.
FRIDAY= snow with gusty winds through day, temps near 24.
SPORTS
NFL= playoffs continue Saturday LA Rams at Green Bay followed by Baltimore at Buffalo, Sunday Cleveland at Kansas City and then New Orleans host Tampa Bay. Action begins 2:30pm Saturday on KLTF.
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NHL= Minnesota Wild open season tomorrow night at LA Kings.